Ms Burney has taken exception to comments made by Mr O'Farrell during a fierce debate in State Parliament yesterday.

Mr O'Farrell stepped in during Question Time as Ms Burney attacked the Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward.

The Labor MP accused Ms Goward of overseeing an incompetent department and leaving vulnerable children at risk.

"She's lost the confidence of every case worker in this state," Ms Burney told Parliament.

The Premier's response angered many on the Opposition benches.

"The Minister for Community Service, the Member for Southern Highlands, has achieved every position in her life on merit. You can't say that," he said to Ms Burney.

Ms Burney is the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the NSW Parliament.

"I want a public apology from Mr O'Farrell or an explanation of what he meant by those comments," she has told AM.

"I mean I've worked for 35 years serving the people of NSW and the people of this country in the best way that I can and the imputation that somehow or other I got there because of other reasons, be it my Aboriginality or not, I want an explanation from the Premier."

The Deputy Opposition Leader concedes she was not immediately upset by the comments, but says they amount to the worst treatment she has received in the Parliament.

"I was so intent on what we were discussing in relation to Minister Goward's performance, it was other people that drew it to my attention," Ms Burney said.

"After reflection, after looking at it, and after thinking about it, it's very difficult to take it any other way than as a racial slur.

"There's been, you know, odd comments that have been a little bit off colour, but nothing intentional and as nasty as the way in which Barry O'Farrell decided to conduct himself yesterday."